Tor Tiv Orcivirigh, Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse
By TYAV SAM TYAV, Makurdi –
Tor Tiv, Orcivirigh Prof James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse has called on Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia to expand the reach of Novus Microfinance Bank across the twenty-three local government areas of the state so as to meet up with the financial needs of the grossly underbanked indigent Benue communities.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the Managing Director and chief Executive Officer of Novus Microfinance Bank Mrs. Patricia Awuese Goja at the Tor Tiv’s palace in Gboko, the Begha u Tiv said the expansion of the Microfinance bank would address the financial needs of the people.
A statement by the Special Assistant to the Tor Tiv on Media and ICT, Freddie Adamgbe said the royal father expressed satisfaction with the programmes of Novus Microfinance Bank which has so far empowered women and youths.
The paramount ruler, the statement continued, implored the bank to embrace a strategic plan on how to spread the programmes across the twenty-three local government areas of the state.
In her address to the traditional rulers, the Managing Director, Mrs. Patricia Goja emphasized that the Governor Hyacinth Alia’s desire to tackle poverty in the state gave birth to the establishment of Novus Microfinance Bank whose major target is the rural communities.
Mrs Goja informed that the bank which commenced operations in June 2024 has empowered over 250 women and youths through cooperatives and group lending and also trained them to improve on their business ventures.
The MD pointed out that the bank resolved to employ three thousand Agent Bankers to represent Novus MFB at the communities.
She disclosed that more than 100 nano businesses are enjoying Novus MFB lending Scheme and over 100 students had their school fees paid in the bank’s product for civil servants’ “My Pikin Fees” which is geared towards assisting parents and guardians who were constrained momentarily, during school resumption and solicited the partnership of the traditional rulers for effective results.
All the 1st class and second-class chiefs as well as imue Ter from across the Tiv land were present while the MD was accompanied by Dooshima Apaa, Novus MFB Marketer and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Community Relations, Hon Terna Andura.
